Kendra sliced several pieces of cheese. Katie placed Patches on the floor, then set a sizable piece of the cheese in front of the cat. Patches dived into it enthusiastically while Katie sat in the third chair by the table and began eating soup with equal enthusiasm but better manners.

“You look as if you’re feeling well,” Lucas observed.

“I haven’t felt so well in ages.” She beamed over the soup bowl. “Mama feels better, too. Much better!” She tilted her head to one side. “What did you do to her?”

How could he explain the unexplainable to a child? Trying to be as clear as possible, he said, “Some people have a divine gift of healing. It’s very mysterious and doesn’t always work, but we decided to try with you and your mother, and it appears we may have succeeded.”

“Thank you,” Katie said gravely. She peered into the food basket and found the sweet cakes her cousin Maggie had included for her. Spice cakes by the look of them. She took a happy bite and washed it down with a mouthful of tea.

Her interested gaze moved to Kendra. “Your hair is the same color as mine.”

“Yes, it is.” Kendra pulled a long lock free so Katie could see it clearly. “A dark brown that shines dark red in the light. It’s usually called chestnut.”

Katie pulled a lock of her own hair out and laid it by Kendra’s for comparison. “Almost the same!” she said with pleasure. “But your hair is darker.”

“That’s because I’m older. Yours will darken with age also.” Kendra tucked her hair away again.

“Your eyes are like mine, too,” Katie said, intrigued. “Not one color. Changing from blue to gray to a kind of green.”

“There’s a reason for that.” Lucas could hear the tension in Kendra’s voice.

“Oh?” Katie said, interested in knowing more.

Kendra drew a deep breath. “Did you know that it’s possible to have two mothers?”

“You mean to be born twice?” Katie shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”

“Not to be born twice, but to have two different kinds of mother. One who gives birth, and one who raises you.” Kendra lightly rested her hand on her daughter’s. “You have two mothers, Katie. I am your birth mother. That’s why we look alike. And Jane Potter is the mother who loved and raised you.”

Shocked, Katie pulled her hand free and scooped up Patches, holding the cat against her chest as protection. “No! If you were my mother, why didn’t you keep me? Didn’t you want me?”